Retailers such as Home Depot have revised their purchasing and selling policies to give preference to certified wood. This book highlights the history, importance, and rewards of forest certification. It discusses the issues involved in mainstream forestry as it is practiced, and what can be done to create sustainable forestry.

From recycled products to organic food, the movement to be "environmentally friendly" is now expanding into the forestry field. Recognizing this impact, Home Depot has committed to giving preference to selling "certified wood," proven to come from forests that meet certain biological and social sustainablility standards. Retailers and vendors can offer certified wood through the international Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and FSC accredited organizations like SmartWood, recently featured in People magazine.

"?I do not know of another book on this topic that combines the theoretical with the practical in such a clear and concise fashion. The book's content ranges from the visionary?to the actual mechanics of a forest assessment. It is [an] in-depth and objective clarification of the Forest Stewardship Council principles and criteria for forest management." -Hank Cauley, Executive Director, Forest Stewardship Council-U.S.